If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.

Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.

How is white rice cooked in your country?

Do people in your country refrigerate rice? Why or why not?

Name some foundations in your country.

READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:

The scientists are in the country of _____________.

The technique to reduce calories in white rice is ___________ it with coconut oil.

How long should you refrigerate the rice after it’s cooked?

Sarah Coe works for the ________________________.

Researchers are 100% sure this cooking method will help with digestion. (T or F)

(P1) Fish and chips is a famous dishin England. Two types of fish are used in the dish. The problem is that there are not enough of these fish. There is less fish in the sea. This is because the sea is getting too warm for these fish.

(P2) If there are not enough fish, the dish will be in danger. Scientists say that squid must replace the fish. Squid numbers are growing fast in the seas around Britain.

If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.

Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.

Have you ever tried fish and chips? If so, did you like it? If no, would you try it?

(P1) Sushi is a traditional food from Japan. It is popular in countries all over the world. Sushi restaurants have become very popular in many Asian, North American, and European cities.

(P2) Sushi is made with rice. It is mixed with vinegar, salt, and sugar. Sushi also contains raw or cooked seafood or vegetables. Sometimes sushi is wrapped in seaweed called nori.

(P3) There are many different kinds of sushi. The most popular sushi in Japan is nigirizushi. This kind of sushi has a piece of fish on top of some rice. Another kind of sushi is makizushi. This is rice rolled around fish or vegetables and wrapped in seaweed. In the USA, makizushi has become the most popular kind of sushi.

(P4) In Japan, Sushi is traditionally served in counter-style restaurants, but there are also many “conveyor-belt shops”. These are called kaiten zushi. In this kind of shop, plates of sushi are put on a moving belt. People can take the sushi they want as it passes. The color of the plate shows the price of the sushi. This type of restaurant is also popular in other countries.

If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.

Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.

Do you like to eat sushi? If yes, which type do you like? If no, why not?

Why do you think sushi is popular all over the world?

Do you have counter-style restaurants and conveyor-belt shops in your country?

READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:

According to the article, where does sushi come from?

Sushi is not popular in most cities in Europe. (T or F)

What’s the most popular type of sushi in the country of Japan?

Describe makizushi sushi.

According to the article, how do customers know the price in a kaiten zushi restaurant?

(P1) Curry is a very popular dish served and enjoyed globally. According to one British website, about 23 million people regularly eat it. Despite curry’s current popularity, it took a long time for the famous dish to spread around the globe and become renowned.

(P2) Historians have traced the origins of curry to the pre-historic era in what is now known as India. At this time, curry was a mix of seeds that were mixed together and ground into a fine powder. It was used very much like salt and sprinkled on other food to give it additional flavor. Curry then spread to other Asian countries. In the mid-17th century, British traders became acquainted with the dish and its popularity took off. As curry restaurants were opened in different countries and traders brought the dishes to far-off and exotic places, curry became a hit in most parts of the world. Despite the worldwide curry craze, however, there is great regional variation in terms of the ingredients and preparation of curry.

(P3) In Asia, for example, curry is generally milder in flavor than in other parts of the world. Potatoes and meat are usually used in the curry and it is usually served alongside rice. It is common in China for curry to be cooked with fish with green peppers, onions, and potatoes. The result is a mild yellow curry sauce. Dinersmay add soy sauce or chili oil to bring out the flavor. Japan, meanwhile, considers curry to be a kind of stew often made using meat, onions, carrots, and potatoes and served with pickled vegetables.

(P4) In Britain, curry is synonymous with a dish called “Chicken Tikka Masala”. This is a curry dish that was brought to English restaurants long ago and tweaked from the original Indian curry recipe to suit British tastes. This refers to roasted pieces of chicken that are soaked in yogurt and baked in an oven. The chicken is then served with a spicy sauce that may include tomatoes and coconut cream. This style of curry is so popular among Britons that one politician declared it the British national dish in 2001.

(P5) South Africans have long embraced curry, which was introduced there by Indians over 250 years ago. The local variantis often called “Durban Curry”, which is red hot in flavor as it uses cayenne pepper and chili. Garlic and ginger are added to fried onions topped with chili powder. Other ingredients may include cinnamon and coriander. The dish is commonly served with rice and might include chicken or fish although most Durban Curry lovers seem to prefer lamb with it.

If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.

Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.

Do you like to eat curry dishes? Why or why not?

Are curry dishes popular in your country? If so, how are they prepared and cooked?

What are some other food dishes you enjoy eating?

READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:

Curry was always a popular dish throughout history. (T or F)

When did the British become aware of curry?

When did Great Britan proclaim curry as a national dish of their country?

(P1) Octopus is a dietary staple of various cultures throughout the globe and it’s no wonder. Octopus makes for a healthy meal. 85 grams of octopus have only 140 calories and 1.8 grams of fat. But more than the health benefits, many people simply find them delicious. Octopus can be prepared in a variety of ways.

(P2) In Japan, octopus (called tako in Japanese) are fried, cooked, and even served raw. Takoyaki is a fried ball of dough surrounding boiled octopus parts. It is often served at festivals or as part of the menu in Japanese restaurants. Sunamono is a dish that consists of vegetables and boiled octopus blended together and seasoned in a special vinegar-based dressing. Finally, raw octopus tentacles are commonly served on a bed of rice as a kind of sushi.

(P3) In Greece, grilled octopus has been a popular dish for thousands of years. The recipe is fairly basic as the octopus is first dried out in the sun and then roasted over charcoal for thirty to forty-five minutes. It is then served with lemon for additional flavor and washed down with a nice glass of ouzo. For a little variety, Greeks will sometimes eat octopus as part of a soup or mixed with tomato sauce. Greek chefs maintain that water should not be used during the cooking process and that the creature is best cooked in its own juices for maximum flavor.

(P4) In Central America, octopus ceviche is a spicy hot dish. Fresh octopus is chopped up along with Serrano pepper, onions, and garlic. These ingredients are mixed together in a small cup or bowl. Tortilla chips or crackers can be used as a crunchy garnish to the dish.

If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.

Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.

Do you like to eat octopus? Why or why not?

What are some international foods you like to eat?

In Greece, they’ve been eating grilled octopus for thousands of years. Are there any dishes in your country that have been around for a long time? If so, what are they?

READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:

Octopus is not eaten in multiple countries. (T or F)

Besides the health benefits of eating octopus, what’s another reason people eat it?

(P1) The next time you fire up the grill, give your taste buds a thrill with recipes that are inspired by some of the best cuisines from around the world. These recipes from Omaha Steaks will take you on a culinary adventure right in your own backyard. Sweet and spicy Korean, zesty South American and bold Mediterranean flavors make perfectly grilled steak even better.

10 Tips for Perfect Grilling

(P2) To help you get the perfect steaks every time, follow these simple tips from the experts at Omaha Steaks:

Clean and preheat grill on high.

Lightly oil everything before putting it on the grill. This helps the searing process and prevents sticking.

Season food before grilling.

Sear the outside of steaks when grilling. This helps with the flavor and juiciness.

Use tongs or a spatula to turn meat on the grill. Using a fork can damage the meat.

Cover grill as much as possible during the grilling process. This helps to lock in the grilled flavor and will help prevent flare-ups.

Keep a spray bottle with water handy to douse any unexpected flare-ups.

Use the 60/40 grilling method. Grill for 60 percent of the time on the first side, then grill 40 percent of the time after turning over the food. This will make sure your food is evenly cooked.

Place cooked food on a clean plate. Never place cooked food on the plate you used to transport the raw food to the grill without thoroughly washing it first.

Allow foods to “rest” for 5 minutes between cooking and eating. This will help them retain moisture when you cut into them.

To get your grill time just right, download SteakTime, Omaha Steaks’ free app with an innovative grill timer, at www.itunes.com/appstore.

If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.

Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.

What are some methods used to grill in your country?

What seasonings are used to grill in your country?

Will you use some of these tips the next time you grill? Why or why not?

READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:

Who is supplying the recipes in this article?

A fork is recommended to flip the meat. (T or F)

Flare-ups always occur when grilling. (T or F)

Grilled meat should never be put on the same plate it was on before being cooked unless the plate is rinsed off. (T or F)

(P1) What are your favorite pizza toppings? How about squid or fried eggs? Most Americans seem to prefer their pizza with the usual cheese and pepperoni. People in other countries, however, have different tastes. In India, for example, a common pizza topping is ginger and mutton. Many Indians like to eat pizza covered with tofu. Spicy vegetables are also a popular topping there. People from Sweden like to eat their pizza with bananas and pineapple. They seem to also enjoy chicken and a heap of curry powder on it!

(P2) If you eat a pizza in Japan, don’t be startledif it has a squid topping. The mayajaga pizza is also popular there. This is a pizza covered with potatoes and mayonnaise. In France, you can enjoy your pizza with a fried egg on top. The egg is sometimes cooked on the pizza. Despite all these different dishes to choose from, pepperoni is still the most popular topping in the world. It also seems that pizza lovers want to eat meat. Somewhere around 62% of all pizzas have meat on them. The next time you indulge in pizza, why not try something a little different on top?

If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.

Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.

What are some popular pizza toppings in your country?

What do you like on your pizza? Why?

Why do you think pizza is so popular worldwide?

READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:

What do a majority of people from the USA like on top of their pizza?

A lot of people from India put sheep meat, ginger, and tofu as pizza toppings. (T or F)

In Sweden, they like to put a small portion of curry powder on their pizza. (T or F)